In a statement, the governing body appealed to the common sense of the President of the Republic, Laurentino Cortizo, who is now responsible for sanctioning or vetoing the controversial Bill 380.
“Although the National Assembly is the body responsible for passing laws in the country, electoral organizations around the world agree that it is not advisable to change the rules of an electoral tournament, as this action undermines the integrity of the process impaired,” the text says. .
Last Monday, in the third and final debate, lawmakers approved changes to the current electoral law that regulates the allocation of seats by residuals in multi-member constituencies
Opponents of these changes point out that they would only benefit the political groups with the largest membership, including the ruling Democratic Revolutionary Party, whose deputies, including Ricardo Torres, have put forward the initiative.
With the signing of the amendment, the harshest critics argue, some seats could be awarded to the major parties in line with the votes obtained in the May 5, 2024 consultation, thus reducing the opportunities of the growing independent movement
Last week, TE President Alfredo Juncá argued that the same rules applied in the 2019 general elections should apply next year.
The Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture, the country’s largest business union, also declared a few months before the parliamentary elections that the reform of the code was an irresponsible and dangerous act that caused complete distrust among the entire society.
On May 5, 2024, Panamanians will vote in elections to determine the country’s new president and vice president, 20 members of the Central American Parliament and 71 members of the National Assembly.
The vote also elects 81 mayors, 701 municipal representatives and 11 city councilors, all with their respective deputies, for the period from July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2029.
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